San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
Your smile can give you a confident feeling in your appearance when interacting with others. But, when you notice a chipped front tooth when brushing or smiling in the mirror, it can cause anxiety, lowered self-esteem, and shake your confidence. Fortunately, San Francisco’s experienced cosmetic dentists at Glen Park Dental can repair your chipped tooth and have you smiling once again. Today on the blog, we share three ways to fix a chipped front tooth, depending on the chip severity.
What causes a chipped front tooth?
Tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the human body. However, it’s still susceptible to damage. Therefore, seek treatment from a Marin top-rated dentist when you notice a damaged tooth to prevent bacteria from infiltrating the enamel and causing cavities. Ignoring the chip could result in advanced conditions requiring more expensive and invasive treatments, such as a root canal or tooth extraction.
Below are more causes for a chipped tooth
- Biting a solid or hard object
- Injuries to the face or mouth
- Cavities
- Trip and fall accidents
- Using your teeth to open packages or bottles
What are the top three options available for a chipped front tooth?
Although not all chipped teeth cause discomfort or pain, some can cause extreme pain. No matter your pain level, a chipped tooth requires a visit to our Oakland dental office to determine the damage and receive proper treatments to restore your smile’s functionality and aesthetics. In addition, some patients may have more tooth damage than others. Therefore, we provide the following treatments individually or in combination to restore your smile and have you smiling confidently again.
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Small Chips
Minor tooth chips may be less noticeable but are at an increased cavity-causing risk since the cracks and crevices can harbor harmful bacteria. Depending on your case, our skilled San Francisco cosmetic dentists can polish or buff the area to create a smooth surface. However, the chip’s depth may require additional treatment with a tooth-colored composite resin filling to seal the area from harmful bacteria and restore your tooth.
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Medium Chips
Medium chips are deeper in your tooth enamel than more minor surface chips and could impose a tooth-breaking risk. In some cases, dental bonding or a porcelain veneer can protect and restore your tooth. If your tooth’s integrity is questionable, our friendly Marin cosmetic dentists may recommend a dental crown to cover and protect the tooth.
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Large Chips
A severely damaged tooth demands a visit to our cosmetic dentists in Oakland so that we can examine your oral condition, including possible nerve damage. Significant chips may increase health and structural concerns and require more advanced treatments. If the chip cause is due to a bacterial infection, root canal therapy can restore your tooth. However, a dental crown may be the best option for structural concerns. In the most extreme conditions, your tooth may need an extraction and then replaced with a dental implant to restore your smile, although other tooth replacement options are available.
Cosmetic Dentists in Marin, Oakland, and San Francisco, California
A chipped front tooth can be disheartening and cause social anxiety when talking or smiling. Not only is the defect harmful to your appearance, but it could also cause severe tooth damage from bacteria if not addressed. Fortunately, fixing a chipped front tooth in San Francisco can be simple and leave you feeling confident. Call our Glen Park Dental team at (415) 585-1500 or contact us to schedule an appointment today!
